Non-st-elevation acute coronary syndrome due to a totally occluded coronary artery: a history of two twin brothers.

We present the image of two twin brothers aged 53. Within 18 months they both underwent acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This story shows that both twins had similar comorbidities (hypercholesterolemia and hypothyroidism) as well as the course of the acute coronary syndrome. Although in both cases the coronary artery was totally occluded (in one case - fresh occlusion, in the other - CTO), no STEMI presentation was observed. Therefore, thorough investigation is warranted in twins after the acute coronary syndrome in of them, even in case of no evident ischemia symptoms.

Platelet distribution width as the prognostic marker in coronary bifurcation treatment.

BACKGROUND: Mean platelet volume (MPV) was proved to be a reliable prognostic factor in cardiac patients. However, platelet distribution width (PDW) was disclosed to be more specific marker of platelet reactivity. The aim of study was to evaluate whether baseline PDW value can predict the outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with drug-eluting stent implantation within coronary bifurcation lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a two-centre observational study, which included patients who underwent PCI within bifurcation lesions between January 2014 and December 2014. Thrombocytopenia below 100 000/µL and STEMI were the exclusion criteria. Analysed data came entirely from in-hospital records and information obtained from the 12-month telephone follow-up. RESULTS: We included 269 patients. Mean PDW value was 13·4 ± 2·5 fL, whereas median was 13 (Q1 < 11·6 fL, Q2 11·6-13 fL, Q3 13-14·8 fL and Q4 > 14·8 fL). We found strong correlation between PDW and MPV (r = 0·96, P < 0·001), but no correlation was revealed between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and PDW (r = 0·003, P = 0·95) as well as RDW and MPV (r = 0·0018, P = 0·98). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve showed that PDW for cutoff 15·8% can predict MACE rate with sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 47% (area under curve - AUC 0·654; P = 0·01). A ROC curve for PDW categorized by 1-year TLR rate was described by optimal cutoff 16·3%, with sensitivity 69% and specificity 54% (AUC 0·697; P = 0·0015). CONCLUSIONS: PDW is an affordable and reliable predictor of 1-year MACE and TLR rate after PCI within coronary bifurcation lesions.

Ten-Year Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Simultaneous Coronary and Renal Angiography-Does Renal Artery Stenosis Matter?

Background: We aimed to characterize the population of consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography with simultaneous renal artery angiography and assess prognostic factors at a 10 year follow-up. Methods: The KORONEF study was a prospective, single-center, observational, and descriptive study with 492 patients included. We analyzed several baseline demographics, clinical and periprocedural characteristics, and laboratory data, and we assessed the results of coronary angiography and renal artery angiography. Results: The study population consisted of 37.2% women, and the mean age was 64.4 ± 9.9 years (min. 30 years, max. 89 years). Angiography revealed significant renal artery stenosis (RAS) in 35 (7.1%) patients. Among patients with significant RAS (≥50%), we observed more women (57.1% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.011), and patients were older (69.1 ± 10.4 years vs. 64.0 ± 9.7 years, p = 0.005). In the whole population, all-cause death was reported in 29.9% of patients, myocardial infarction (MI) rate-in 11.8%, and stroke-in 4.9%. In the multivariable analysis, independent predictors of death were age 65-75 years (HR 2.88), age > 75 years (HR 8.07), diabetes (HR 1.59), previous MI (HR 1.64), chronic kidney disease (HR 2.22), unstable angina (HR 0.37), and left ventricular ejection fraction > 60% (HR 0.43). Conclusions: Over a 10 year follow-up, the all-cause death rate was 29.9%, showing no statistically significant differences between patients with and without significant RAS.

The Impact of Sclerostin Levels on Long-Term Prognosis in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography: A Personalized Approach with 9-Year Follow-Up.

Sclerostin might play a role in atherosclerosis development. This study aimed to analyze the impact of baseline sclerostin levels on 9-year outcomes in patients without significant renal function impairment and undergoing coronary angiography. The primary study endpoint was the rate of major cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a combined rate of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, or death at 9 years. We included 205 patients with a mean age of 62.9 ± 0.6 years and 70.2% male. Median serum sclerostin concentration was 133.22 pg/mL (IQR 64.0-276.17). At 9 years, in the whole population, the rate of MACE was 34.1% (n = 70), MI: 11.2% (n = 23), stroke: 2.4% (n = 5), and death: 20.5% (n = 42). In the high sclerostin (>median) group, we observed statistically significant higher rates of MACE and death: 25.2% vs. 43.1% (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.1-2.10, p = 0.02) and 14.6% vs. 26.5% (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.02-3.41, p = 0.049), respectively. Similar relationships were observed in patients with chronic coronary syndrome and SYNTAX 0-22 subgroups. Our results suggest that sclerostin assessment might be useful in risk stratification, and subjects with higher sclerostin levels might have a worse prognosis.

Diversity of selected Lupinus angustifolius L. genotypes at the phenotypic and DNA level with respect to microscopic seed coat structure and thickness.

The paper investigates seed coat characteristics (as a percentage of overall seed diameter) in Lupinus angustifolius L., a potential forage crop. In the study ten L. angustifolius genotypes, including three Polish cultivars, two Australian cultivars, three mutants originated from cv. 'Emir', and one Belarusian and one Australian breeding line were evaluated. The highest seed coat percentage was recorded in cultivars 'Sonet' and 'Emir'. The lowest seed coat thickness percentage (below 20%) was noted for breeding lines 11257-19, LAG24 and cultivar 'Zeus' (17.87%, 18.91% 19.60%, respectively). Despite having low seed weight, the Australian line no. 11257-19 was characterized by a desirable proportion of seed coat to the weight of seeds. In general, estimation of the correlation coefficient indicated a tendency that larger seeds had thinner coats. Scanning Electron Microscopy images showed low variation of seed coat sculpture and the top of seeds covered with a cuticle. Most of the studied genotypes were characterized by a cristatepapillate seed coat surface, formed by elongated polygonal cells. Only breeding line no. 11267-19 had a different shape of the cells building the surface layer of the coat. In order to illustrate genetic diversity among the genotypes tested, 24 ISSR primers were used. They generated a total of 161 polymorphic amplification products in 10 evaluated narrow-leaved lupin genotypes.

Application of DNA markers linked to the potato H1 gene conferring resistance to pathotype Ro1 of Globodera rostochiensis.

Ninety-one potato genotypes (cultivars and breeding lines) selected as resistant or susceptible to pathotype Ro1 of Globodera rostochiensis were screened for the presence of two PCR markers, 0.14 and 0.76 kb in length. Both PCR markers were linked with the H1 gene, located at the distal end of the long arm of chromosome V, and were present in 88 to 100% of the resistant cultivars and breeding lines. The 0.76 kb PCR marker was detected in all resistant genotypes and in approximately 86% of susceptible breeding lines as well as in all susceptible cultivars. The 0.14 kb marker was detected in 88% of resistant breeding lines and in 94% of resistant cultivars. Most of the susceptible genotypes tested (91% of cultivars, but only 50% of breeding lines) did not show the presence of the 0.14 kb marker. We conclude that the 0.14 kb H1 marker is likely to be useful for the proper selection of potato genotypes resistant to the Ro1 pathotype of G. rostochiensis.